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India's COVID-19 cases surge to 18 million while government praises turnout for 'festival of democracy'
April 30 2021
India's total COVID-19 cases have passed 18 million after another world record number of daily infections.
Key points:
India has set a new global record of daily cases for seven of the past eight days, with a seven-day moving average of nearly 350,000 infections.
Daily deaths have nearly tripled in the past three weeks, reflecting the intensity of the latest surge.
India's best hope is to vaccinate its vast population, experts say, and on Wednesday it opened registration for all above the age of 18 to receive vaccinations from Saturday.
But although it is the world's biggest producer of vaccines, India does not have the stocks for the estimated 600 million people now eligible.
Many who tried to sign up for vaccination said they failed, complaining on social media of being unable to get a slot or even to simply get on the website, as it repeatedly crashed.
"Statistics indicate that far from crashing or performing slowly, the system is performing without any glitches," the government said on Wednesday.
Since the rollout began in January, around 9 per cent of Indians have received their first dose of a vaccine.
A healthcare system in crisis
Harrowing scenes of people begging for oxygen have become firmly etched in the global consciousness, as India's health system struggles under the weight of surging coronavirus cases.
Some doctors were advising patients to stay at home.
It has led to desperate family members sending SOS messages on social media, hoping someone would help them find oxygen cylinders, empty hospital beds and critical drugs for their loved ones.
India expects close to 550 oxygen generating devices from around the world as medical aid starts pouring in, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said on Thursday.
Australia has pledged 509 ventilators and millions of pieces of protective equipment in an initial support package.
Support from Russia has already arrived, with two planes carrying 20 oxygen concentrators, 75 ventilators, 150 bedside monitors, and 22 tonnes of medicine arriving in Delhi on Thursday.
India will also receive a first batch of Russia's Sputnik V vaccine on May 1.
Government celebrates 'festival of democracy' as political rallies defy public health advice
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been criticised for allowing massive political rallies in recent weeks in the lead-up to elections.
But on Thursday, despite the biggest public health emergency the country has faced in a generation, people were out in force voting in the eastern state of West Bengal in an election Mr Modi has been campaigning in.
Political rallies have been held though each phase of the electoral process. Here supporters of India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party gather ahead of the third phase in Kolkata in early April.(
AP: Bikas Das
Long queues were seen outside polling booths, raising concerns about further spread of the virus amid a deadly second wave.
"It's a festival of democracy and everyone is participating. You can see the queues," said Krishna Kalyan, a candidate from Mr Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.
The year began with a continuing political crisis for the Modi government as thousands of farmers were undeterred from mass protests in response to agriculture reforms.
ABC/wires
www.abc.net.au
April 30 2021
India's total COVID-19 cases have passed 18 million after another world record number of daily infections.
Key points:
- The rate of deaths in India has almost tripled over the past three weeks
- Australia has joined international efforts pledging aid supplies
- The Indian government celebrated queues of people lining up to vote in elections on Thursday
India has set a new global record of daily cases for seven of the past eight days, with a seven-day moving average of nearly 350,000 infections.
Daily deaths have nearly tripled in the past three weeks, reflecting the intensity of the latest surge.
India's best hope is to vaccinate its vast population, experts say, and on Wednesday it opened registration for all above the age of 18 to receive vaccinations from Saturday.
But although it is the world's biggest producer of vaccines, India does not have the stocks for the estimated 600 million people now eligible.
Many who tried to sign up for vaccination said they failed, complaining on social media of being unable to get a slot or even to simply get on the website, as it repeatedly crashed.
"Statistics indicate that far from crashing or performing slowly, the system is performing without any glitches," the government said on Wednesday.
Since the rollout began in January, around 9 per cent of Indians have received their first dose of a vaccine.
A healthcare system in crisis
Harrowing scenes of people begging for oxygen have become firmly etched in the global consciousness, as India's health system struggles under the weight of surging coronavirus cases.
Some doctors were advising patients to stay at home.
It has led to desperate family members sending SOS messages on social media, hoping someone would help them find oxygen cylinders, empty hospital beds and critical drugs for their loved ones.
India expects close to 550 oxygen generating devices from around the world as medical aid starts pouring in, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said on Thursday.
Australia has pledged 509 ventilators and millions of pieces of protective equipment in an initial support package.
Support from Russia has already arrived, with two planes carrying 20 oxygen concentrators, 75 ventilators, 150 bedside monitors, and 22 tonnes of medicine arriving in Delhi on Thursday.
India will also receive a first batch of Russia's Sputnik V vaccine on May 1.
Government celebrates 'festival of democracy' as political rallies defy public health advice
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been criticised for allowing massive political rallies in recent weeks in the lead-up to elections.
But on Thursday, despite the biggest public health emergency the country has faced in a generation, people were out in force voting in the eastern state of West Bengal in an election Mr Modi has been campaigning in.
Political rallies have been held though each phase of the electoral process. Here supporters of India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party gather ahead of the third phase in Kolkata in early April.(
AP: Bikas Das
Long queues were seen outside polling booths, raising concerns about further spread of the virus amid a deadly second wave.
"It's a festival of democracy and everyone is participating. You can see the queues," said Krishna Kalyan, a candidate from Mr Modi's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.
The year began with a continuing political crisis for the Modi government as thousands of farmers were undeterred from mass protests in response to agriculture reforms.
ABC/wires
India has recorded 18 million cases of COVID-19, but the government is still urging people to leave their homes
Despite the biggest public health emergency the country has faced in a generation, the Indian government praises long queues of people lining up to vote in the general election.
www.abc.net.au
